HELP THAT HELPS

With homelessness on the rise in California, in spite of billions of dollars spent to end it, we realized intentional steps needed to be taken to both be a greater part of the solution.

Stay Homeless

There is not a one-size-fits-all solution to homelessness. However, there is one thing we can do to keep people homeless longer.

What would happen if individuals receiving handouts around Visalia...didn't? Would they utilize available resources?

We think so.

For many, it will be the first step toward ending their homelessness.

Help That Helps

In 7-minutes, hear from our men's and women's shelter managers regarding what's healthy and what's harmful when it comes to helping the homeless.

First thing's first, we have to define what that word means.

Second, learning the causes and effects of homelessness are so diverse, the remedy exists within a case by case basis.

Major cities across the country spend billions of dollars on housing, yet homelessness is only increasing. It's time for a new approach.

2017 Graduates

You may see five individuals.

We see generations. We see a father returning to his children as a new man. We see young men with a new map for a new journey, with the tools and relationship with God to navigate life's ups and downs. We see a mother returning home.

We see what's possible when people are left with nothing, and then, truly find what they were missing all along.

"The Rescue Mission’s Help that Helps model has been incorporated into a Department presentation on the strategies used by the Department in addressing homelessness, as police officers know all too well that alms are often used by the recipient to maintain his or her alcohol/drug addictions. The Visalia Police Department strongly encourages its residents who wish to donate and help homelessness persons, to direct their valuable resources to service providers such as the Visalia Rescue Mission, in order break the “enabling cycle” that many homeless individuals find themselves in. The Department believes that this approach yields the best results for a large segment of the homeless community.”